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Teams of engineering students and faculty at U.S. colleges and universities have an opportunity to help NASA with innovative design ideas to meet the challenges of space exploration. The 2020 eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge supports NASA’s efforts to develop technologies and capabilities that will enable future human missions to the Moon, Mars and other solar system destinations. In collaboration with the National Space Grant Foundation, NASA will offer competitively selected awards of $15,000 to $50,000 for the development of studies, functional products and solutions to enhance the human exploration of space. Entries are due April 26, 2019.

The 2020 X-Hab Challenge addresses six topic areas:

High Efficiency Heat Exchanger to Achieve Low-Power CO2 Deposition: Design
and build a prototype of an air-to-air heat exchanger that operates in
at least one of two required temperature ranges: 190-296K and/or
130-190K.

Integration of Field Results into Virtual and Augmented Reality Environments: Develop a program that integrates new mission data sets and field analogs into virtual and augmented reality environments.

Volume Optimization for Food Product During Deep Space Exploration: Develop
a modular, scalable infrastructure to support food production that
optimizes total volume and minimizes crew time requirements.

Development of a Design Database for the In-Space Manufacturing Project: Develop
a part database that is capable of storing and distributing and
includes parts from space systems, disposable and customizable items and
crew personal items.

User Interfaces for Gateway Autonomous Operations: Design user interfaces for autonomous operations of the Gateway (including, all modules) while in crewed and uncrewed mode.

The X-Hab Challenge provides real-world, hands-on design,
research and development opportunities for students interested in
aerospace careers, while strengthening NASA’s efforts to optimize
technology investments, foster innovation and facilitate technology
infusion. Through strategic cooperation with universities, the agency
intends to bridge gaps and increase knowledge in technologies,
capabilities and operational approaches related to human spaceflight.

Previous challenges resulted in products NASA tested and evaluated
for use in deep space. The products and technologies developed for the
2019 X-Hab Challenge will be further refined for next-generation
exploration systems, and could eventually provide the basis for future
demonstrations and missions. X-Hab is managed by NASA’s Kennedy Space
Center.

The agency plans to extend a permanent human presence beyond
low-Earth orbit by building the Gateway in orbit around the Moon for use
as a staging point for missions to the lunar surface and other
destinations. Integrated systems are needed to safeguard and sustain
people living and working in space, far away from Earth’s protective
atmosphere and resources like food, air and water.